P380 Break In Frustration

[ek0rz22]

Picked up a P380 at the gun show a couple weeks ago and just found the time to start breaking it in. Very frustrating. Even though I read other posts that said it may take a little work, I wasn't prepared for how problematic it would be.

So far I've run through the first 100 rounds of range ammo. I didn't bother to check the brand. My problem is that it failed to return to battery for probably 50% of the shots attempted. I can push it home with my thumb and it will fire. We're going back to the range today. I have another 100 rounds of Remington FMJs and 50 Federal FMJs from WalMart. Hopefully, this will get easier.

Also, the slide spring seems very loose. With the slide all the way forward I can press the slide rearward 1/2" with very little pressure. I tried this on another brand new P380 and it was the same. Is this just how they are?

[jocko]

go to the kahr tech section andhit on two good sticky;'s

1; kahr lube chart


2 propper prepping of ur new kahr.


shout fmj american brand ammo for break in, no sense wasting money on good defense stuff until the gun is running right. It just sounds to me lke the gun needs more rounds down range and maybe a goopd lube along to.

[ek0rz22]

Yes, good info there. i lubed it up according to the recommendations.

[jocko]

go to the kahr tech section andhit on two good sticky;'s

1; kahr lube chart


2 propper prepping of ur new kahr.


shout fmj american brand ammo for break in, no sense wasting money on good defense stuff until the gun is running right. It just sounds to me lke the gun needs more rounds down range and maybe a goopd lube along to.

[OldLincoln]

You didn't say but was it new when you bought it? With everything but the recoil spring installed, does the slide smoothly and freely move all the way fore and aft? If yes to all, I'd suggest you strangle that puppy when shooting to make darn sure you are controlling the recoil. Take special note of the first 25 rounds you shoot before your grip gets tired.

[bonjorno2]

as mentioned before on this site, let someone else shoot it and see if they can re create the problems.... You need at least 200 more rounds through it before kahr will even talk to you about shipping it back to them as long as you don't have any other issues. I had one where it wouldn't disassemble and I had to go to a gunsmith to get it to unchamber the round that was in the pipe so I could send it back to kahr... I ended up selling it, but now I own another p380 with 0 issues, thanks to the previous owner having shot plenty of rounds and kahr giving it a nice tune up.

[bonjorno2]

The slide wouldn't come open after chambering a round so I couldn't even rack the slide....

[knkali]

You didn't say but was it new when you bought it? With everything but the recoil spring installed, does the slide smoothly and freely move all the way fore and aft? If yes to all, I'd suggest you strangle that puppy when shooting to make darn sure you are controlling the recoil. Take special note of the first 25 rounds you shoot before your grip gets tired.

just for kicks put on a glove and try it. If your problems get much better then you are dealing with two problems. Breakin and the shooter. Dont ask how I know.

[ek0rz22]

The gun is new. Only the first 100 rounds through on Friday. Took it back to the range today. Ran another 150 round through with only 4 failures to return to battery. Each of these was when my wife was shooting (1st time for her to the range). We shot 50 rounds of Federal and 100 Remington. The range ammo I used previously was Sellier & Bellot. Maybe it's breaking in and maybe it's breaking in the shooter. I'm not used to a gun this small.

I'll run some more through to be feel 100% about it as well as some of my SD ammo. Plan to to use Federal Premium Hydrashock.

[ek0rz22]

Can you also provide a recommendation for lubricant? I typically use Break-Free CLP. At the range one of the guys relubed it with some brand of gun grease.

[nobody]

In my short experience and with my P380, it doesn't like dry. After about75+ rounds it starts to get too dirty and or dry and the FTRTB starts ( I could probably go longer now that it's more 'broke in' - but I usually keep to that). Keep it clean and oiled. I used to use Breakfee but got a free sample of Weapon Shield and like it better so far.

[garyb]

Could be the ammo too. I try to use good ammo (mostly reloaded myself) and simply keep it clean. I switched entirely to Mil Com TW25B grease on the rails, barrel, recoil springs/guide and TW25B oil on the rest. They work compatibly together. Seems to work well on our S&W Bodyguard 380 and my PM40. Lots of good ammo and lubes out there. Once you find the right ammo, oil and/or grease combination for your gun to eat, you'll feel better...even after 100's of rounds.

[wyntrout]

I would break the gun down and examine the barrel and chamber for burrs and look for anything that might be causing it to not quite go into battery with the slide. Look and feel... touching and sliding the barrel around between your fingers for roughness. You can use fine grit sandpaper... or coarser, as needed. Polishing the barrel hood, feed ramp, and chamber mouth a bit with a Dremel-like tool (DLT) using a soft wheel and polishing compound, and then continuing the break in... after lubing everything, will probably get rid of the balkiness.

Oh, while it's apart, check the recoil spring and make sure it's installed with the closed end to the rear. I twirl my spring a bit as I insert it and the guide rod into the front position so it doesn't poke through the front of the slide.

Good luck. They are great little pistols, but some need more TLC than others.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

IMO kindahard to beat the TW25 grease.I realize there areother good grease products out there to. so not running anything down when I say that. Actualy that shooters choice in a syringe is damn good stuff to. Hell these guns are not precision movement mechanical watchs that require 6 different knds of oils in the mechanisms. If u keep ur gun lubed with what ever you choose, ur hell of alot better off than one who doesnt do jack sh-t..

[OldLincoln]

+1 on TW25. Little goes a long way.

[knkali]

tw25 here